Research on Determining Liability for Traffic Accidents Involving Autonomous Vehicles

Abstract

As the commercialization of autonomous driving technology accelerates, related industries are undergoing unprecedented rapid development. Simultaneously, a series of traffic accidents caused by X Automobile’s autonomous driving system have exposed significant shortcomings in the existing traditional legal framework, particularly regarding the identification of liable parties. This issue not only challenges the current legal system but also impacts social governance and ethical concepts. Taking the 2016 fatal accident caused by X Automobile’s autonomous driving system as a representative case, this paper operates at the intersection of technology, law, and society. Employing comparative analysis, empirical research, and socio-legal methodologies, systematically examines the complex theoretical challenges in determining liability for autonomous driving accidents—including product liability, manufacturer obligations, algorithmic transparency, users’ reasonable reliance and duty of care, as well as insurance and compensation mechanisms. It explores potential pathways for institutional innovation to adapt to technological change at two levels: legal philosophy reform and institutional construction. This aims to provide theoretical reference for establishing a safe, fair, and forward-looking legal regulatory framework for autonomous driving.